As Michigan's quarterback job for the 2018 season remains in limbo, one quarterback would consider another season with the Wolverines if the situation is right.
A source with knowledge of former Michigan starter Wilton Speight's thinking told the Free Press on Thursday the quarterback would be open to returning to the Wolverines next season if incoming transfer Shea Patterson is ruled ineligible for 2018 by the NCAA.
Speight, who graduated from Michigan in December and planned to pursue a graduate transfer, is currently in Los Angeles training while he goes over his options for next season. He plans to have a destination picked by June.
According to the source, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh has told Speight he would be open to the quarterback returning to school if Speight would like to.
Patterson transferred to Michigan from Ole Miss in December and is hoping to receive an immediate eligibility waiver from the NCAA, claiming he was misled during his recruiting process.
Patterson told the Free Press last month the waiver process couldn't begin until after he had started school at Michigan. He enrolled in early January and isn't expected to hear any type of ruling until next month at the earliest.
If Patterson does not receive his waiver, he must sit out the 2018 season as a transfer. Michigan currently has redshirt sophomore Brandon Peters, redshirt freshman Dylan McCaffrey and true freshman Joe Milton on scholarship at quarterback for next season. The Wolverines have a commitment from three-star passer Kevin Doyle, though he has not yet signed.
Speight helped Michigan to a 10-3 record as a starter in 2016, throwing for 2,538 yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He missed one game due to a shoulder injury, though he played hurt the following week in an overtime loss to Ohio State.
After beating out John O'Korn and Peters for the starting job in 2017, Speight saw his season cut short after he suffered a vertebrae injury in a win at Purdue on Sept. 23. He went 44-for-81 passing for 581 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions during his four games with the Wolverines.
Speight, who has a clean bill of health and is cleared for competition, has one season of eligibility remaining.
If he opted to return to Michigan, he would need to enroll in a graduate program to play as a fifth-year senior before classes begin in the fall.
